NFL Free Agency Preview 2012: Chicago Bears
By Zac Snyder
The 8-8 Chicago Bears have many needs after a disappointing end to what was a promising 2011 season. The Bears were 7-3 and cruising toward a playoff berth when Jay Cutler broke his thumb and the season came to a grinding halt.
GM Jerry Angelo was fired to start the Bears’ offseason, citing the talent gap with division rivals as a reason for the change. The Bears brought in former Chiefs director of college scouting Phil Emery with a view towards rebuilding the team through the draft. That’s a great plan, but the Bears still have plenty of needs – and a healthy amount of salary cap space – that should be addressed through free agency but by far the biggest need is wide receiver. Here’s a look at some players they should be targeting when Free Agency opens on March 13th.
Vincent Jackson
VJax is 6’5″ and 230 pounds, so he’s definitely got the size to go up and get it for Cutler. He racked up over 1100 yards last season on just 60 catches for 9 touchdowns, so you know he’s got that big play ability the Bears seek. Jackson is a little older than Bowe. I think he’ll command a higher price tag than Bowe and may price himself out of the Bears’ market.
Marques Colston
Of the top three wide receiver prospects, Colston comes with a red flag on the injury front. In his 6 seasons with the Saints, he’s played in 16 games just twice. I am also a little skeptical if the 6’4″ Colston is more of a product of the Saints terrific system and a beneficiary of the multitude of weapons that Drew Brees has at his disposal.
Robert Meachem
Here’s an example of a guy playing in another guy’s shadow. With all the weapons that Drew Brees and the Saints have at their disposal, Meachem slides under the radar. At 6’2″ and 210 pounds, he’s got that bigger receiver size and at just 27 he’s entering his prime. His 40 catches, including 6 for touchdowns, would rank tops among Bears wideouts.
Laurent Robinson
Robinson is a very under the radar guy, especially with all the big names in Big D. But his numbers are very not under the radar. He racked up 11 touchdowns and nearly 900 yards receiving in just 14 games. And that’s while fighting for catches with Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. The big worry is whether he’s a one-hit wonder. Oh and that whole former Cowboys wide receiver thing, um Roy Williams and Sam Hurd much?
Reggie Wayne
Wayne is definitely on the down side of his career but he’s got the experience to pull this off. With Peyton Manning heading out of Indy, Wayne might be heading out of town too. If he doesn’t follow Peyton, he could be a stopgap to help bring along a wide receiver corp in desperate need of a veteran presence. I only advocate this move if the Bears draft a young wide receiver.
Pierre Garcon
Garcon doesn’t have the prototype size of the #1 wide receiver the Bears seek, but he’s put up big numbers in Indianapolis as Reggie Wayne’s understudy. He hauled in 70 balls in 2011 with 6 TD’s. At 25, he’s got a lot of upside.
Mario Manningham
Manningham had a down year in 2011 but he’s still boasting another some Super Bowl bling and a highlight reel catch to go with it. He’s in the lower tier of the second tier in my book, but even that would be an improvement to the Bears wide receivers group.
Eddie Royal
Royal had his best season in his rookie year with you know who as his quarterback in Denver. He had a down year in 2011 with the Broncos, but with Tim Tebow at the controls, all their wide receivers had a down year. He’s not the big target you’d like at only 5’10″ but he could bolster the Bears wide receiver corp nonetheless.
Early Doucet
Doucet is another under the radar type, playing in Larry Fitzgerald’s shadow. His 54 catches and 5 TD’s would be a welcomed addition to the Bears. He doesn’t have ideal size, but when you’re desperate enough, this could be a good option.
Preview provided by Mike Burzawa. Check out Bear Goggles Ony for more on the Chicago Bears.